Firing device for breech-loading guns.



No. 745,301. PATENTBD ov. 24,1903.

v. 0. TASKER. FIRING DEVICE FOR BREEGH LOADING GUNS.

' I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1903. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

q INVENTOH ATTORNEY No. 745,301. A PATBNTED NOV. 24,1903. v. c. T'ASKBR. I FIRING DEVICE FOR BREEGH LOADING GUNS.

APPLICATION FIL BD MAR. 23, 1903.

no MODEL. 2 sums-sum: 2.

BY/ M 2 L UNITED STATES Patented November 24, 1903.

AT-ENT FFICE.

VE RNON C. TASKER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES ORDNANCE COMPANY, OF \VASIIINGTON, DISTRICT ,OF COLUMBIA, CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

FIRING DEVICE FOR B R EE CH-LOADING GUNS.

SFECIFICATION-fonning part of Letters Patent No. 745,301, dated November 24, 1903.

Original application filed February 7,1903, Serial No:142,356. Dividedand this application filed March 23, 1903. Serial No. 149,010. (No model.)

10 auwhom, it may concern/r "Be it known that I, VERNON O. TASKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firing Devices for Breech-Loading Guns, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,which form a part thereof. I My invention consists in non recoiling mechanism on the gun-mounting for actuating firing mechanism recoili-ng with the gun and is shown in connection with substantially' the same breech mechanism and firinglock, respectively, as disclosed in my applioation,'Serial N 0. 142,356, filed February 7, 1903, and in Letters Patent No. 710,124, granted to me September 30, 1902, although Igam not tobe understood as limiting myself to this particular breech mechanism or firinglock.

Having fully diselosedand claimed in the above -mentioned application and Letters Patent the breech mechanism and firing-- lock therein respectively set forth, a detailed description of the parts and operation thereof will not be repeated herein.

Figures 1 and 2 are rear and side eleva- 0 tions, respectively, of the. gun and firing device. Fig. 3 is a section on the line g g of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side and end view of the washer T of Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 5 represents a plan view of the device in simpler form, the firing-handle U being in inoperative position and its operative position indicated by dotted lines; Fig. 6, a side elevation of the same;. Fig. 7, a cross-section through the shaft S and the hub U of the firing-handle. Referring to the drawings, A represents the gun, having a hinged carrier 0 for the breech-block and for the firing-casing K, which contains the firing-lock and has at its outer extremity an arm K extending across the rear face of the carrier carrying the shaft I. The upper end of the shaft P operatively engages the firing-lock. Its lower end terminatesin the free arm P for the purpose of rotating said shaft to fire the gum-said arm extending forwardly and actuated by ,the pallet S carried by the shaft S3, journaled in the bearing T on the non-recoiling portion Y of the mount or carriage. The

pallet-S, which engages the arm P in firing, is extended rear'wardly to permit of firing the gun when not fully forward, and the shaft Sgwhich carries said pallet, isfurnished with areturn-spring V and a releasing-latch S, which are engaged by the hub U of the firiughandle U duringits movement in firing and released therefrom by over-travel of' the handle. The firing-handle U is hinged to the hub U to permit of being folded rearwardly against the bearingT", its lug U engaging the slot T in the bearing T and preventing rotation of the shaft S The bearing T has an internal collar T engaging one end of the spring V, the other end of which engages the shaft S to keep it revolved to normal position. Theinternal collar T also engages one end of a lever-return spring V its other end engaging with the firing-lever hub and tending to maintain the latter in normal position.

The firing-lever hub has an annular projection U entering the bearing T and partially cut away, forming a lip U", normally engaging the latch S (See Fig. 3.) A washer T (shown separately in Fig. 4) abutsthe end of the bearing and carries a cam-lug T, and its rotation is prevented by a dowel T engaging the bearing. The relation of the parts is such that when the shaft S through the agency of the lip U, acting on the latch 8*, has been rotated by the firing-haudle far enough to fire the gun the latch is depressed into the shaft by riding upon thecam-lug T. This releases the shaft-[from the influence of the firing-lever and permits the spring V to I return it to normal position. The firing-lever is stopped by the lug U on its hub meeting the bearing T and upon subsequent release of downward press re on the firing-lever itis restored to normal position by thespring V The latch S 'then'springs againin front of the lip U in position to be again actuated by downward movement of the firing-lever.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 exhibit my device in a simpler form, wherein the firing-lever has been depressed sufficiently to fire the gun isdispensed with. To this end the pallet 5', carried by the shaft S, is of. heli-. coidal form, as shown, and a horn or projection O ls so positioned on the carrier Gas to deflect the pallet, shaft, and firing-handle to normal position upon the return of the gun after recoil in case the tiring-handle is not already released from its depressed position. A single spring rotatively actuates the shaft S to keep the pallet S in downward and the handle U in upward position. The handle-hub U is loosely mounted on the shaft and carries a screw U having a projection entering the outer end of a.slot S Fig. 7, in the shaft, securing the latter against end Wise movement and causing it to rotate against the resistance of-thespring V when the hau dle U is depressed to tire the gun. 'lhehorn or linger C on the carrier is normally'justforwardof the pallet S, and as the gun returns-to position after recoil should the pallet still be in itsupward position this horn C automatically deflects it to-nmmal position before it can again act upon the arm P, and

'if after this from any cause the handle U should, be depressed before the breech is closed for the next shot the pallet S is again automatically thrust into normal position by the horn (Was the carrier swings shutI Thus the gun cannot he accidentally fired by the handle U being carelessly or accidentally held in depressed position between shots. In firing the gun the pallet S swings upwardly, and as the gun recoils the projection C acts on its under side and further deflects it slightly in order to pass to the rear, the slot S in the shaft- S permitting this without'fur- 'ther'movement of the firing-handle U.

I claim- 1. The combination with a breech-loading gun, firing mechanism thereon, and arecoilmount for the gun; of a longitudinal shaft on the mount, an arm on said shaft adapted'by its rotation to operate said firing mechanism and means for automatically deflecting said arm and shaft to normal position after firin 2. The combination with a breeclrloading gun, firing mechanism thereon, a recoil-mount forthe gun; of a pivoted arm on the mount fdr operating said tiring mechanism, a lever for actuating said arm; and means operated by continued movement of said lever for rethe automatic release and return to position of the tiring-shaft after for the gun,

coiling portion of leasing said arm from the influence of said lever.v

The combination witha breech-loading gun, firing mechanism thereon, a recoil-mount of a pivoted arm on the mount for operating said firing mechanism, a lever for actuating said arm; and means operated by continued movement of said lever for'releasing said arm from'tlre influence of said lever, and means for returning said arm to normal position. i

4. The combination with a breech-loaning gun, firing mechanism thereon, a recoil-mount for the gun, of a pivoted arm on the mount for operating said firing mechanism, a lever for actuating sail arm; and means operated by continued movement of said lever for re? leasing said arm from the influence of-said lever, means for returumg said arm to nor-I mal position and means for ver-to normal position.

5. lhe. combination with a breech-loading returning'the 1e gun, firing mechanism thereon, and a-recoilmount for the-gun;- of a pivoted arm on the mount adapted in its rotation to operativoly engage said firing mechanism, a hub for ro-- tz'tting'said'arm, and an operatin -lever hinged to said hub and adapted to swing eratiye position.

6. The combination with a breech-loading for the gun; of a pivoted arm on the mount out ofops gun, firingmechanism thereon,areeoil mount adapted in its rotation to operatively engage said firing mechanism, a h ub for rotating said arm, and an operating-leverhinged to said hub and adapted to swing out of operative position and prevent rotation of said arm'.

l. The combination with a breech-loading gun, firing mechanism thereon, and a recoilmouut for the gun; of a bearing on a non-resaid. mount, a shaft rotatively mounted in said bearing, an arm integral with saidshaft adapted to actuate said tiring mechanism, a firing-handle for actuating and thereafter releasing said shaft, a

spring for returning said shaft, and a-spring for returning said handle In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in presence offltwo witnesses.

VERNON O. TASKER,

Witnesses:

A. Y. Lnncn, J12, G. T. SAMPSON. 

